ubetchabeads blog: Art Elements' April Component of the Month

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Art Elements' April Component of the Month

Ocean Waves Necklace

Hello and welcome to my entry for April's Art Elements Design Challenge. Art Elements, a blog celebrating creativity and art expressed in craft form, host monthly design challenges. I had the privilege of being chosen to receive one of the lampwork glass beads made by Jen Cameron.

When creating these beautiful beads, Jen said that first she was thinking of the Northern Lights for her inspiration. As time went on, however, she noted that the beads had more of an ocean feel. She textured the outside of the bead with swirls. How she achieved her technique is described here.

The bead I received has more of an ocean feel.

Close Up of Jen Cameron's Lampwork Bead

In deciding how to design using this bead, I started by choosing sterling silver wire. I thought the silver would be a good choice to contrast the dark blue and could also pull out the sandy brown and white in the bead. Silver also reflects the way sun sparkles off the water.

To echo the ocean feel and the swirls on the bead, I made a large swirl clasp and figure eight links for a touch of some bubbles.

I chose bronze faceted Czech glass, dark blue crystal and champagne, mercury finished Czech glass beads to pull out the colors in the focal bead.

Vintage "Sandy" Beads

In digging around in my stash I found these vintage Italian(?) lamp work beads that seem to have a sandy, beach like feel to them. I gave the larger ones some swirls to set them apart a bit.

I love how the silver, crystal and bronze beads subtly sparkle in this necklace and I'm also very glad
to have more of the vintage beads so I could make a pair of earrings to coordinate with the necklace.